| South Para | |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia South Australia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the river mouth in South Australia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Australia |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | South Australia |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Mount Lofty Ranges |
| Subdivision Type5: | Towns |
| Subdivision Name5: | Gawler |
| Length: | 48km (30miles) |
| Source1: | Mount Lofty Ranges |
| Source1 Location: | near Mount Crawford |
| Source1 Elevation: | 459m (1,506feet) |
| Mouth: | confluence with the North Para River to form the Gawler River |
| Mouth Location: | at |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -34.6°N 183°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 48m (157feet) |
| River System: | Gawler River |
| Tributaries Left: | Watts Gully Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Malcolm Creek |
| Custom Label: | Reservoirs |
| Custom Data: | Warren Reservoir |
| Extra: | [1] |
The South Para River is a river located in the Mount Lofty Ranges northeast of Adelaide in the Australian state of South Australia.
The river's name is based directly on the Kaurna word pari which means river. The "south" descriptor distinguishes it from the North Para River with which it merges.
The South Para River rises in the Mount Lofty Ranges near Mount Crawford and Kersbrook and flows northwest through the Mount Lofty Ranges, passing through the Warren Reservoir and the South Para Reservoir, before reaching its confluence with the North Para River in Gawler to form the Gawler River. The South Para River descends over its 47.5km (29.5miles) course.[1]
The South Para River catchment is one of the key watersheds in the northern Mount Lofty Ranges. It plays an important role in the functioning of South Australia, providing much of the water used by Adelaide's domestic supply in the Northern Adelaide area. The rainfall in the South Para River catchment varies from per annum in the north-east of the catchment to per annum near Williamstown. Its waters are also used for livestock production, cereal cropping and recreation.